Co-operative Commonwealth Federation

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was a social democratic and democratic socialist political party in Canada that existed from 1932 to 1961. The party was founded in Calgary in 1932 in response to the Great Depression, and it was backed by farming interests, intellectuals concerned with social welfare, and some representatives of industrial labor. The CCF advocated the introduction of a welfare state and the nationalization of key industries, and it enhanced its appeal during World war II when it benefited from hopes of a better postwar society. It came second in the 1943 Ontario provincial elections, and it won the 1944 provincial elections in Saskatchewan. It governed Saskatchewan until 1964, and it was key in establishing universal Medicare, as well as an intercity bus company and public petrol distribution. In 1945, it won 15.6% of the popular vote in the general elections, but support for socialism in Canada declined because of the Cold War. The party's appeal waned as other parties implemented many aspects of their social welfare rpogramme, and it merged with the Canadian Labor Congress in 1961 to form the New Democratic Party of Canada.